You would think the natural gas industry has enough critics these days with Gov. Andrew Cuomo pondering whether to allow hydrofracking, the controversial gas drilling method.

But now the oil industry is taking a swipe at natural gas.

As part of his state energy policy, Cuomo has been pushing to expand natural gas delivery in New York, even as hydrofracking remains banned in the state.

Hydrofracking has created a renaissance in the U.S. energy sector. The process, which uses horizontal drilling and a combination of sand, water and chemicals to get to gas deposits that previously couldn't be extracted, has opened gigantic supplies in places such as Pennsylvania and Ohio. That has lowered natural gas prices, even in New York, which imports fracked gas. And because the most popular fuel used in power plants in New York is natural gas, the price of electricity here also has dropped. That's good for both residential and business customers, although in the more rural parts of the state, natural gas isn't as plentiful. That's especially true in the Adirondacks, where the mountainous terrain and small population make it economically unfeasible to build an expensive natural gas pipeline network.

The Cuomo administration has been pushing the construction of natural gas pipelines in the state so more businesses and residences can get cheaper energy prices.

However, Empire State Petroleum Association, which represents home heating oil companies, says it is foolish to base long-term economic development policies on short-term commodity pricing.

And it could backfire, especially if the world starts turning to the U.S. for its natural gas and exports skyrocket. That would put pressure on domestic prices to rise. "There is no guarantee that the price difference between oil and gas will continue and no foolproof manner to predict future prices," Emilio Petroccione, an attorney for the petroleum association, wrote in a recent filing to the state Public Service Commission, which is deciding how to best expand natural gas availability in the state.

The expansion of natural gas delivery would also help Cuomo's Energy Highway plan, which includes construction of new high-voltage transmission lines and new clean-burning power plants to ensure plentiful and cheap energy in the state. And if Cuomo gets his way and the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Westchester County is closed, he'll be counting on additional pipelines to feed new natural gas power plants that would have to be built to make up for the loss of Indian Point. That plant makes enough electricity every day to power 2 million homes.

However, Empire State Petroleum Association says the natural gas industry isn't a "clean" energy source. In its PSC filing, the association's lawyer also says natural gas leaks are extremely dangerous for the environment and that methane, the main component of natural gas, is 20 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas.